What Is an Oxford Shoe?
An oxford shoe is a classic leather shoe with a body that comes up no higher than the ankle and laces up over the instep. The basic oxford has developed into a number of different styles. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Oxford shoes became popular in the 1800s as fashion trends became more practical than ornamental, according to Douglas Gorsline, author of "What People Wore." Oxfords were initially worn in Scotland and Ireland, then became popular in England and the United States.
Basic Features
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The basic body of oxford shoes is constructed to look like one seamless piece of leather, with another piece forming the toe cap, according to tips from Become.com, an online style guide. The variations in styles are mostly ornamentation.
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Styles
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Balmorals are the classic, seamless-style oxford. Wingtip oxfords have "W" shaped toe caps that taper back from the toe, giving the appearance of a bird spreading its wings. Become.com describes saddle oxfords as featuring a piece of leather in the shape of a saddle that's sewn over the instep.
Ornamentation
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Though oxford shoes originated as practical shoes with clean lines, designs have trended toward slight ornamentation, mostly in the form of fancy stitching and tiny decorative cutouts near the seams. The kiltie oxford has a tongue with fringed leather that is folded down over the laces after they're tied.
Women's Oxfords
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Through most of their history, oxford shoes were exclusively menswear. Now, they are also produced in women's sizes with more extreme ornamentation, designer colors and taller heels.
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References
- Photo Credit shoes image by FJ Medrano from Fotolia.com
